Kapolei RB Josh Kansana breaks into the end zone for a 3-yard TD run in the third quarter against Aiea. Michael Lasquero | SL

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_17100728_FB-10.6.17-AIEAvsKAP-4676.jpg - Michael Lasquero | SL

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KAPOLEI — Fourth-seeded Kapolei crushed visiting Aiea, 41-0, Friday night in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I football tournament.

But the Hurricanes (5-4) will have less than 10 hours to celebrate their victory. By about 9 a.m. Saturday, Kapolei's focus will be on No. 2 Kahuku in next Friday's quarterfinal at Carleton E. Weimer Field. Kahuku is 7-1 against Kapolei, 4-1 in OIA quarterfinals. Kapolei beat Kahuku in the 2007 quarterfinals, 14-7, the last time the Red Raiders lost at home.

"We're going to the toughest place to play. They're tough," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said of the defending OIA D1 champion Red Raiders (7-1). "We're going to enjoy this for a little bit. Then we're going to regroup, start watching film and try to get healthy because Kahuku is one of the toughest teams to play against, especially at their place."

While the Hurricanes (5-4) beat Na Alii (2-6) handily, the win wasn't without issues. There were dropped passes by Kapolei. The Hurricanes were penalized 14 times for 127 yards. Their first series ended on downs at the Aiea 35. Its second series was riddled by three penalties and Kapolei was forced to punt from Aiea's 43.

"The slow start really plagued us," Hernandez said. "That first drive, we had four dropped passes and the second drive we had two holdings and a false start that really derailed us."

Ironically, it was a penalty against Aiea during the punt – illegal participation for having 12 players on the field – that gave Kapolei second life. The penalty moved the ball to Aiea's 27. Three plays later, sophomore quarterback Lonenoa Faoa hit freshman Titus Mokiao-Atimalala on a 3-yard touchdown to break the ice to start the second period.

"That's mental mistakes that we have," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "We had one guy ran out. That kind of stuff, when we have penalties like that, the kids started hanging their heads. But you just have to fight back, get it back the next play."

It was the break Kapolei needed, as it scored on its next two series on a 15-yard run by Josh Kansana and 3-yard TD catch by Ransen Paison to take a commanding 21-0 lead into the half. 

Kapolei added three second-half TDs on runs of 3 yards by Kansana, 3 yards by backup quarterback Kaniala Kalaola and 43 yards by freshman Sunny Semeatu to finish off Aiea. 

The offense wasn't the only one jelling for Kapolei. Its defense held Aiea to 81 yards of total offense and got two turnovers from a fumble and interception by Landan Shove. The front seven pursued Aiea quarterback Ty Matsunami, dropping him for lost yardage four times. Aiea QB Ty Matsunami was pressured into 10-of-23 passing for 67 yards.

"We ran a lot of stunts and (we) blitzed," Kapolei defensive lineman Aaron Faumui said. "We made the quarterback uncomfortable and he had to scramble. We did our jobs."

Kapolei spread the ball around, as 10 different players recorded receptions. The most heavily used was Mokiao-Atimalala, who had 10 catches for 124 yards. Just as many players also registered carries for Kapolei. Dylan Toilolo led with 60 yards on six carries; he could have had more, but several rushes were called back by penalties.

Despite being outmanned by Kapolei's depth, Aiea played about as hard as it could.

"They wore us down," Say said. "They're a good team. They're peaking at the right time. They're a sleeping giant; that's why I was afraid of these guys. Our kids played hard; they never quit."